Vacuum feeder



G. R. HAUB VACUUM .FEEDER Oct. 20, 1936.

' Filed- Oct. 27, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 `INVENT ,f /l/ /U//////////////l ATWNEY Ot. 20, l1936.

G. Rl HAUB 2,058,149

VACUUM FEEDER Filed oct. 27, 1932 3 sheets-shea 3 INVENTOR BY M ATTORNEYPatented Oct. Z, 1936v UNITED STATES- .VACUUM FEEDER George R. Haub,Pittsburgh, lPa., assignor to Shawkee Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh,

a.,a corporation of Pennsylvania` Application October 27, 1932, SerialNo. 639,820

5 claims. l(ci. fis-55) This invention relates .to a method of andapparatus for segregating mold charges from a mass of molten glass, andthe present application is a continuation in part of my copendingapplica- 5 tion bearing Serial VNumber 595,101 filed February 25, 1932,for. Glass feeding apparatus.

.In the application referred to, I have shown a glass feeding apparatuswhich utilizes an impulse chamber in which glass is caused to flow and lfrom which it is extruded in successive gobs that are sheared off afterthey are formedbelow the ,discharge orifice, and in said application Ihave i particularly featured the mechanism for supplying successiveimpulses to the glass in the feeding l chamber.` l

The present application is directed to a method of controlling the glassflow to the feeding cham-v ber employing means in addition to theimpulse producing and controlling means, and it is among the objectsthereof to provide apparatus which shall be capable of gathering,forming and segregating mold charges by apparatus requiring few andsimple" adjustments, and which shall be adapted to maintain theuniformity of the shape and weight of the segregated gob once the devicehas been set. l

A further object of the invention is the provision ofmeans whereby theweight and shape of a gob are primarily controlled by the size of thedischarge orifice without requiring the precise adjustments andoperations of the impulse mechanism as has been the object of all priorfeeding implements of the pneumatic type.

Still a further object Aofthe invention is the provision of means forvarying the weight of the gob while maintaining the'impulse pressures atsubstantially constant values.

The present invention is an improvement on the patents to Hitchcock#805,067 and #805,068 40 granted NovemberfZl, 1905,disclosing a feedingchamber having a discharge outlet or feeding ori-.-

fice, `a glass flow passagecommunicating with a source of molten glass,and pressure vimpulse mechanism for supplying impulses to the glass inthe feeding chamber to subject the glass toa surging. movement wherebyportions y were ex.- truded for severance atthe discharge orice, and thestub of glass from which the gob was severed is drawn back into thefeeding chamber.

One of the diculties encountered in the operation ofthe Hitchcockfeeder. was a tendency toward the filling of `the feeding chamber withglass which, if it occurred, rendered the impulses ineffective on the'glass in the region of the discharge orice. j I

While the present invention utilizes the vertical chamber andthe-horizontal glass delivery passage of the Hitchcock feeder, provisionis made for rendering the impulses of vacuum and pressure more effectiveat the discharge orifice than in the 5 Hitchcock feeder, because there,a relatively large volume of glass is subjected-to the effect of theimpulsesand the proportion and locationof the passages is sucli that theeffect of the impulses is to some extent dissipated. I employ arelatively 10 small feeding or gathering chamber and a relatively largeimpulse chamber and I so locate and proportion the glass deliverypassages that substantially the entire force of each impulse is renderedeffective at the discharge orifice, and 1,15 thus obtain al morepositive control of the glass throughoutthe entire feeding operation,and I am therefore able to maintain the desired size of the successivegobs or charges of glass delivered bythe feeder even under suchvariations of op- 20 erating conditions as are bound to occur.

This construction confines the impulses of pressure and vacuum so thatthey act upon a minimum volume of glass above the discharge orificewhich provides absolute control of the shape and 25Y weight of the gob.

The invention will become more apparent from a consideration of theaccompanying drawings' constituting a part hereof in which likereference characters designate like parts and in which: 30

Figure 1- is a top plan view of a feeder boot and ow channelillustrating a feeding chamber and control embodying the principles ofthis in lventicm; 1 y

Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal cross-sectional 35 view of the boot andforehearth' structure;

Figure 3 a cross-sectional view taken along the lines III-III, Figure 1;

Figures 4, 5 and 6, vertical sectional views of the feeding chambergraphically illustrating the 40 working of the glass in said chamberand,

Figure '7 a vertical longitudinal cross-section of the feeder boot and aportion of the forehearth showing a modied form of feeding device.-

In the drawings, the reference numeral I des- 45 lgnates the side wallsof a forehearth structure;v 2, the cover or roof having a burner blockor port 3 therein for the insertion of a fuel nozzle 4 which projects ahot flame into the heating chamber 5 of the forehearth. The hearth isprovided 50 with' ahearth block 6 which terminates at-I and is protectedas are the side walls I witn metal sheeting 8. y l

A- feeder boot generally designated-by the referencet numeral 9 isdisposed adjacent the end 1 55 of the hearth block 8 and consists mainlyof a solid refractory block I8 having a vertical passage I I hereinafterdesignated the feeding chamber, an inclined passage I2 hereinafterreferred to as the inlet passage to the feeding chamber II, and anoutlet I3 hereinafter designated the feeding orifice. Block I3 has avertical extension Il which may be integrally formed as shown or whichmaybe a separate sleeve member attached to the block III, the extensionIl having a passage constituting an extension of the feeding chamberII.-

'I'he block I0 ishoused within a wall generally designated by thereference numeral Il which surrounds the block III and is provided withopenings I8 and I1 in the top thereof. Also, the wall I5 has a stack orflue I8 at the top thereof with a passage I9 shown in Figure 1communicating with the space Isa surrounding thev block I3 whichconstitutes the space a divided passage for the hot gases which aredirectedl with considerable velocity through the burner port 3a as shownby the arrows in Figure 2 of the drawings. Cooperating with the feeding-chamber II is a refractory bushing 20 which is mounted on a hingemember or bracket 2I that is hinged at 22 to a metal casting 23 thatsurrounds the wall Il, and the bushing 20 is supported in the bracket bya flange 24 or in any other suitable manner to render them readilyremovable for the purpose hereinafter stated.

'Ihe hinge bracket 2| is adapted to t snugly l burner port 3a isconducted to the front of thev boot passing partly around the side wallsthereof. as shown by arrows in Figure 2,and partly downwardly throughthe passages 25 around the orifice ring 20, lthence below the feedpassage I2 and upwardly through passage I 9 of the stack I8. In thismanner. the glass flowing to the chamber II and the glass in the orificering 20 is heated to maintain the glass flowing to and from the feed-Aing chamber at a constant uniform temperature thereby eliminating one ofthe disturbing factors which, in devices where such heating was notprovided for, wasthe source of constant trouble.

The supply passage l2, through which the glass 21 from the forehearth 8is fed to the feeding chamber Il, is a relatively narrow and fiatpassage in close proximity with the discharge outlet I3, and provisionsare made for controlling the flow of the glass through the inlet passageI2 by means of va gate 28 which is disposed in the opening I1 and whichis adjustable by means of a hand wheel 23 to raise and lower the gate inaccordof the feeder. block I0 so that the head of the glass 21 actingupon the gate 28 will securely hold it in its .adjusted positions.

tively narrow. .jand wide, it being shown of the same or greatelriwidththan the diameter of. the feeding chamber. I I','and the purpose of soproviding a narrow and wade slot isf-to produce amaximum area of flowpassage a'minimum distance from-the feeding orifice I3 as obviously ifthe passage I2 for the same area were of circular form, the top of thepassage would be spaced further away from the discharge orifice I3. Thefeeding passage I2 is shown on a level with the planed glass at thebottom of the forehearth 6, it being disposed below the top of hearth 8which assures' a constant supply of glass of uniform quality.

The usual and conventional form of cutting shears 30 are provided belowthe orifice ring 20 for severing the gobs as they are formed.

With reference to Figure 7 of the drawings, the orifice ring 20, thesolid block I0, feeding chamber II, inlet passage I2 and the surroundingheating passages/25, 26, and the passage I9 of thel stack I8, areprecisely the same as that shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, but theflow of the glass to the gathering chamber is controlled in a differentmanner than by the gate 28 of Figure 2 of the drawings.

In Figure 7, a cylindrical stem 3i is disposed in the opening I1 of thefeeder Vboot and is provided with an extension 32 that projects into avertical passage 33 communicating with the feed passage I2, and the massof glass in the forehearth structure.

A ange 34 is provided on stem 3| to constitute an abutment for a flatshoulder portion 35 provided on the top of the block I0 so that the feedpassage I 2 may be entirely cut off from the source of glass supply 21.I

With reference to Figures 2 and 7 of the drawings, the feeding chamberII, through its vertically extending passage, is connected to a conduit36 leading to a source of positive and negative pressures which arealternately communicated to the feeding chamber I I lto act upon theglass withl in the gathering chamber in the following manner.

Briefly describing the operation of the above described feeder,attention is directed to Figures 4 to 6 inclusive of the drawings inwhich it is to be noted that the volume of the gathering chamber betweenthe top of the passage I2 and the bottom of ring 231s relatively small.In Figure 4, the glass is shown as flowing in a stream 31 from theoriilce ring 23. the stream partially filling the discharge orifice sothat the impulses transmitted to the feeding chamber II are noteffective in any manner upon the glass flowing from the supply 21through the feeding passage I2 to the discharge oriflce I3.

'I'he gate 28 is adjusted to permit sufilcient glass to flow through thepassage I2 into the gathering chamber at the bottom of the feedingchamber II to the discharge lorifice I3 to almost fill said orifice asshown in Figure 5 of the drawings. When the orifice I3 is substantiallyfilled with the flowing glass 31, the vacuum in the feeding chamber Ilwill be effective in sealing the orifice I3 and f drawing the glass intothe gathering chamber as shown at 38, in Figure 6. Upon the subsequentapplication of the pressure impulse, the glass will be extruded in theform of a gob from the feeding chamber II. At this stage of theoperation, the shear mechanism 33 is placed in operation and the gob issevered. Subsequent impulses will produce a gob, the size vand shape ofwhich can be regulated by minor I adjustments of the gate 28 and withoutregulat- As shown in Figure 1, the passage I2 is relaing the impulsemechanism.

Such minor adjustments as are necessary for regulating the weight of thegob may also be made by regulating the impulses communicated to chamberII without adjusting gate 28.

' the volume. of glass in the gathering chamber amiamo The mass orweight of the gob is primarily'y controlled by the size ofthe feedingorice which should be maintained at the level of the top of passage i2and it has been found that control of the extruded gob ismost'eflectively `obtainedwhen at the completion of the suction impulsedoes not exceed substantiallyy double the volume of the extruded gob.

The feeding of the glass in the present type of feeder is largely bygravity as the impulses of .ity of the glass the .feeding chamber donot, to any appreciable extent, either increase or retard thevflow ofthe glass through the feeding passage I2, though the flow may beretarded or quickened at the instance of application ofthe impulses. f

lt is apparent that the success of applicants v feeder depends on theproper carrying out of the feedingprinciples as described in connectionwith Figures i to 6 of thedrawings, and the unil formity in the qualityof the glass passing into and from the feeding chamber. By withdrawingthe glass from the bottom-of the vforehearth and `by means of theheating passages surrounding the lower portion of the feeder block, andorifice ring, and by employing the relatively thick mass oi refractoryaround the feeding chamber which acts asia temperature stabilizer, suchuniformity oi" glass duality is readily maintainable.

ln the type of iiow control valve employed in Figure 'i of the drawings,the how by gravity to the feeding chamber ii is controlled by varyingthe resistance oi the flow tothe stem 32, this being accomplished byadjusting the stem vertically so that the portion di entends a greateror lesser distance into the vertical passage td leading to the icedpassage it. Ii, for example, the stein ll is entirely withdrawn from thevertical pas sage il, the glass will ow freely into the feeding chamberil, and if a small fee orice were used the feeding chamber wouldgradually fill with glass and the impulses directed to the chamber wouldbe active on the glass mass somewhere above the feed passage it insteadof in the region of lthe feeding orice it. By lowering the stem 32 intothe passage d3, a resistance to the dow is set up which is increased bythe amount or distance the stem d2 is projected into the passage di,thereby obtaining a control oi' the dow similar to thecontrol effectedthrough the gate 2t as explained in connection with Figurea i to 6 ofthe drawings.

' From the foregoing description of the operation of the device, it isevident that there are .three outstanding` principles which eect theshaping and control of the gob, these being the delivery to andmaintenance `of a constant thermal qualwithin the feeding chamber anddirectly within and above the feeding orifice by the location ofthe feedpassage at the bottom of the hearth, the effect of the stabilization ofthe refractory mass, and the heating `passages around the refractoryblock and orifice ring; second,l the utilization of a minimum glass masswithin the feeding chamber; and third, the con trol ofthe flow of' glassfrom the supply source to the feeding chamber to an amount equal tosubstantially the how `necessary to fill the discharge orifice.

It is apparentfrom the foregoing description of this invention thatapplicant has `deviseda feeder which eliminates the complicatedregulating mechanisms of the prior art thereby largely reducing theerrors which maycreep into the operation of a glass feeder, and hasfurther provided means for maintaining uniform quality, quantity andshape' of glass segregations.

To vary the size of the gob, it isonly necessary to closegate 28, dropthe hinge bracket 2|, and remove the bushing 2li. An orifice ring havinga larger or smaller orifice, as the case may be, is

then inserted in the hinge bracket 2i which is raised to the positionshown in the several figures of the drawings, the impulse mechanism isvenergized, and the gate 28 or the stem 3i is read- Justed to cause alnow of a greater or lesserv amount of glass throughthe passage i2 untilthe orice is just lled.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been hereinillustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that various modications of the form of device herein disclosed maybe eifected within the sco of this invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for segregating mold charges from a mass of molten glasscomprising a closed feeding receptacle of refractorymaterial having afeeding chamber, a glass inflow passage, and a feeding orifice, and amuihe chamber enveloping substantially the entire receptacle andconstituting a hue passage for a gaseous heating medium.

2. Apparatus for segregating mold charges from a mass oi molten glasscomprising a feeding receptacle consisting ci a refractory block havinga feeding chamber therein, a glass inflow passage for said chamber. anda discharge passage leading irom said chamber, an orifice ring vadjacentthe discharge passage, and a heating 'a source in a stream ofsubstantially such volume as to fill said feeding orifice, applyingalternate pressure and vacuum impulses to the glass above said orihce toertrude a portion of the glass in the form of a gob of predeterminedweight while maintaining the volume of the flow from the source of glasssupply the relative periodicity and theintensity of the impulses and thevolume of the glass above the feeding oriilce substantially constant toextrude successive gobsof uni--l form weight and shape, and maintainingthe glass in and above said feeding orice at sub stantially constanttemperature.

4. The method of segregating mold charges from a mass vof molten glass,which comprises directing a flow of glassto an impulse chamber andthrough a feeding orifice therein, controlling the rate of flow to theimpulse chamber so that the glass flowing to and through the feedingorice will be of a volume sufhcient only to seal said orifice, applyinga negative pressure impulse to the glass flowing through the feedingorifice to interrupt the flow through the orifice at the instant ofsealing of the feeding orifice, and drawing the glass into the impulsechamber, then applying a positive pressure' impulse tothe glass toextrude the glass from the impulse chamber in the form of a gobsuspended below the iced ing oriiice and severing the gob while hangingfreely in suspension.

5. The methodv of segregating mold charges from a mass of molten glasswhich comprises directing a, flow of glass to an impulse chamber havingrefractory walls of substantial mass and f through a feeding oricetherein, enveloping the refractory Walls of the impulse chamber in aregulable heating medium to maintain the refractory wall of said chamberat substantially constant temperature, controlling the rate of glassflow to the impulse chamber so that the glass flowing to and through thefeeding orifice orifice and severing the gob while hanging freely 10 insuspension.

' GEORGE R. HAU'B.

